Refrigerating apparatus.



I. BODINI-J. REPRIGERATING APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1913.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented July 29, 1913.

W. I. BODINE. RBPRIGERATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

Patented July 29, 1913.

W. I. BODINE. REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1913.

Patented July 29, 1913 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

TNT FlWE.

WILLIAM I. mm, or srnmerrupp, inrssoum, ASfiIGNOQB. TO UNITED men WORKS COMPANY, or SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, a coeronarron or rssooar.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

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Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented July 29, 1913.

Application filed January 20, 1918. Serial No. 743,117.

frigerating Apparatuses, of which the fol-.

lowing is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. This invention relates to refrigerating apparatuses, and has for its main object to provide means of novel construction for automatically regulating or controlling a refrigerating apparatus so as to maintain the refrigerating compartment at an approximately uniform temperature.

Another object is to provide a refrigerating apparatus which is so designed that the supply of refrigerating medium to the refrigerating device is controlled automatically by a valve that is actuated by a thermostat of novel construction and arrangement.

Other objects and desirable features of my' invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure l of the drawings is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of a refrigerating apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said apparatus, partly in horizontal section; Fig. 3 is a top'plan view illustrating the automatic pressure regulating valve and the thermostat that governs the position of said valve: and Fig. 4 is a gide elevational view of the parts shown in ig. 3.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates a refrigerating chamber provided with a refrigerating deviceof any preferred type or design, the refrigerating device herein shown consisting of coils 1 and an expansion chamber 2 that communicates with said coils. A condenser B of any suitable type or design is connected with the coils 1 of the refrigerating device by means of. a pressure line 3 that leads from the liquid holder or receiver 4 of the condenser,

and a compressor C of any suitable type.

or'design is provided for sucking the gas out of the expansion chamber 2 of the refrigerating device, for compressing saidgas to a high degree and then forcing it into the condenser B wherein it is liquefied or converted back into its original state, the

suction side of the compressor C being connected with the upper side of the expansion chamber 2 by means of a suction line 5, and the pressure side of said compressor being connected with the condenser B by means of a pressure line 6. Water is supplied to the condenser B by means of a pump D driven by the compressor O and having its discharge side connected with the condenser by means of a water supply pipe 7. The elements above-described may be of any preferred type or design and may comprise various valves, traps, gages, and so forth, that are illustrated on the drawings but which I will not describe as they do not form part of my present invention. V

The compressor C is preferably driven by means of an electric motor E, and means is provided for starting and stopping said motor automatically when certain conditions exist so as to maintain the refrigerating chamber at an approximately uniform temperature. The current that energizes the motor E is controlled by a switch F, and this switch F is in turn controlled by an automatic switch G which is governed by the temperature in the refrigerating cham her A and by the pressure in the pressure line 6 that leads from the compressor to the condenser. A thermostat, which preferably .consists of a vertically disposed pipe 8 partly filled with liquid anhydrous ammonia or some other suitable volatile liquid,

and the upper end of said pipe 8 is connected by means of a branch pipe 8 with .a gage 9. When the temperature in the refrigerat-ing chamber A rises to a certain degree the pointer 9 of the gage 9 moves in one direction into engagement with a contact 10 and thus causes the automatic switch G to actuate the switch F so as to close the circuit that energizes the motor E. hen the temperature in the refrigerating chamher A drops below a certain degree the liquid in the pipe 8 will contract and the pointer 9 of the gage 9 will move in the opposite direction into engagement with a contact 11 so as to cause the automatic switch G to actuate the switch F and thus open the energizing circuit for the motor E. When the pressure in the line 6 that leads from the compressor to the condenser rises above a certain-degree, the pointer 12 of a gage 12 that communicates with the pressure line 6, moves into engagement with a contact 13 and thus causes the automatic switch G to actuate the switch F so as to open the circuit for the motor E and thus cause said motor to stop.

An automatic pressure regulating valve H is arranged in the pressure line 3 that leads from the liquid-holder 4: of the condenser to the coils l of the refrigerating device -so as to reduce the pressure-of the refrigerating medium before it enters said coils. Said valve H referably consists of an ordinary ammonia g obe valve whose valve stem 14 passes freely through the bonnet of the valve instead of being threaded into same. The valve stem l t is adjustably connected to a yoke 15 in any suitable manner, such, for example, as by means of nuts 16 onthe valve stem that are arranged on opposite sides of said yoke,'as shown in Fig. 4

of the drawings, and a thermostat is provided for automatically moving the yoke 15 so as to change the position of .the part of the valve H, not shown, which controls the flow of the liquid refrigerating medium through said valve. In the preferred form of my invention as herein shown, the thermostat that governs the valve H consists of a piece of pipe 17 connected to a cross-head 18 that is fastened to the yoke 15 and arranged in such a manner that the liquid refrigerating medium in the expansion tank 2 of the refrigerating device can flow into said pipe, as hereinafterdescri'bed. The pipe 17 is arranged in an inclined position, as shown in Fig.4, and is supported by a stationary supporting structure 19 on the outside of .the refrigerating chamber A, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower end of the pipe 17 is threaded into a T 20 which is connected at one end by means of a branch pipe 21 with the lower side of the expansion chamber 2, thus permitting the liquid to flow from said expansion chamber into the pipe 17. The

branch pipe 21 passes through a hole cor- -res ondin to tlE diameter of said pi e P p P which is formed in one member of the stationary supporting structure 19, and the other end of the T 20 is provided with a short laterally projecting pipe 22 which also passes through an opening of corresponding size formed in one member of the stationary supporting structure 19, the outer endyof the short pipe 22 bein closed so as to prevent the escape of the Iiquid refrigerating medium. It will thus be seen that the pipe 17 is securely connected at one end, the lower end, to the stationary supporting structure 19 and consequently when said pipe 17 expands and contracts, as hereinafter described, movement will be imparted to the yoke 15 to which the stem 14 of the valve H is connected. A T 23 which is arranged in the pipe 17, as shown in Figs. 3 and t, is connected by means of a pipe.24 with the upper side of the expansion chamber 2, as shown in Fig. 1. While I prefer to use a thermostat of the construction just above-described for governing the pressureregulating valve H I do not wish it to be understood that the successful operation of my apparatus depends upon the use of a thermostat of this type, nor is it essential that a thermostat of the type herein illustrated be constructed in the manner herein specifically described and shown.

I also prefer to arrange an electricallyoperatedstop valve I in the pressure line 3 between the pressure-regulating valve H and the liquid-holder of the condenser B so as to automatically cut off the flow of the liquidrefrigerating medium through the line 3 when the motor'E stops, said valve I comprising a solenoid '25 which is electrically connected to the automatic switch G, as shownin Fig. 1. hen the temperature in the refrigerating-chamber A drops below a certain degree and thus causes the motor E to stop, the valve I closes and thus cuts off the flow of the refrigerating medium into the coils of the refrigerating device, and when the temperature in the refrigerating chamber rises to the desired limit the motor E starts and the stop valve I opens automatically.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: The liquid refrigerating medium which is preferably anhydrous ammonia, leaves the drum or liquid-holder t of the condenser under a pressure of approximately 10 to 18 atmosphere, and flows through the pipe 3 to the pre'ssure-regulatheat from the coils 1 and expansion chamher 2 and the air surrounding said elements.

The gas generated in said coils and expans1on chamber passes out of said chamber through the suction line 5 to the compressor C wherein it is compressed to a high degree and forced into the condenser B through the pressure line 6. -Water is of course pumped through the condenser by the pump D so long as the compressor 0 is in operation, the ammonia gas which passes through the condenser being liquefied or converted into its original state and collected in the liquid holder 4 that forms part of the condenser. The pressure-regulating valve H is so adjusted that the-proper amount of ammonia will pass through said valve to keep the pipe 17 of the thermostat partially filled rises, the level of the ammonia in the pipe,

noeaas 'derstood that the liquid flows from the expansion chamber 2 through the branch-pipe 21 that leads to the lower end of the pipe 17 of the thermostat. When the level of the ammonia in the expansion chamber 2 17 will rise, and said pipe 17 will be frosted to a greater extent, thereby causing said pipe 17 to contract and thus close the pressure-regulating valve H sufiiciently to check the flow of the ammonia through the pressure line 3 into the coils of the refrigerating device. As soon as the ammonia in the expansion, chamber 2 lowers by continual evaporation, the level of the ammonia in the pipe 17 will drop, and the portion of said pipe 17 that is not filled with ammonia will be warmed by the surrounding atmosphere, thereby causing said pipe to expand slightly and open the pressure-regulating valve H and consequently allowing more liquid to flow into the coils and expansion chamber of the refrigerating device. Ac cordingly, any fluctuation in the height of the ammonia or liquid refrigerating medium in the expansion chamber 2 will cause a corresponding expansion or contraction of the pipe 17 of the thermostat and thus regulate the valve H so that the liquid ammonia will always be held at approximately the same height inthe expansion chamber 2.. When the temperature .in the refrigerating chamber A drops below a certain, degree the thermostat in said chamber and the gage and switches that cooperate with same act to cause the motor to stop andalso cut off the flow of the ammonia to the refrigerating device. Thereafter, when the temperature in the refrigerating chamber A rises to the ,desired limit the pressure in the thermostat 8 rises and thus causes the pointer 9 of the gage 9 to engage the contact 10, thereby causing the circuit which energizes the motor E to be closed and consequently causing the of the liquid in said expansion chamber,

thereby causing the pressure-regulating valve H to open farther, in the manner pre: viouslydescribed, so as to restore the normal level-0f the liquid in the thermostat 17 which controls the pressure-regulating valve H. If the liquid rises too high in the pipe 17 that constitutes the thermostat which controls the pressure-regulating valve, sald pipe will be cooled its en tire length and the valve H will be closed to such an extent that the liquid refrigerant will evaporate and pass over to the compressor C faster-than it Wlll flow through the valve H. As soon as the com ressor C starts the temperature 1n the coils 1 and expansion chamber 2 will be.

lowered and the temperature in' the refrigeratingchamber A will begin to fall, thereby causing the liquid in the thermostat 8 to contract and thus move the pointer 9 of the gage 9 in the opposite direction into engagement with the contact 11, which action, as previously stated, causes the motor E to stop automatically. The pressure gage 12 is electrically connected to; the automatic switch G and therefore whenever the pressure in the line 6 reaches a certain degree the pointer 12 of said gage will move automatically into engagement with the contact 13 and thus actuate the switch G so as to open the circuit which energizes the motor E, thereby automatically stopping the entire apparatus and thus preventing excessive pressure and consequent expense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to-secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerating device, means for supplying a liquid refrigerating medium under pressure to said device, a pressure-regi'ilating valve through which said refrigerating medium flows before entering said device, and a thermostat arranged to be acted upon by the refrigerating medium that enters said device for gov-' erning said valve so as to maintain the llqllld refrigerating medium in the refr1g prating device at an approximately constant evel. i

2.;In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigcrating device, means for supplying a liquid refrigerating medium under pressure to said frigerating medium can flow into said memher and rise and fall therein as the level of a the liquid refrigerating medium in said refrigerating device varies.

In arefrigerating apparatus, a refrigerating device, means for supplying a liquid refrigerating medium under pressure to said device, a pressure-regulating valve through which said refrigeratin medium flows before entering said device, and means for automatically changing the position of said valve so as to vary the supply of the liquid refrigerating medium to said device when th level of the liquid refrigerating medium in said device varies beyond certain limits, said means comprising a thermostat arranged in such a manner that the refrigerating medium comes in contact with same and thus causes it toexpand and contract as the level of the liquid rises and falls.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerating device arranged in a refrigerating chamber, a condenser, a compressor for causing a liquid refrigerating medium to flow from said condenser into said refrigerating device and for sucking the gas out of said refrigerating device, a pressure-regulating valve through which the refri erating medium flows before entering the re rigerating device, a motor for operating said compressor, means governed by the temperature in said refrigerating chamber for causing said motor to stop and start automatically when the temperature in said chamber varies beyond certain limits, and means controlled by the level of the liquid in said refrigerating device for governing said pressure-regulating valve.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerating device arranged in a refrigerating chamber, a condenser, a compressor for causing a liquid refrigerating medium to flow from said condenser into said refrigerating device and for sucking the .gas out of said refrigerating device, a pressure-regulating valve throughvwhich the refrigerating medium flows before entering the refrigerating device, a motor for operating said compressor, means governed by the temperature in said refrigerating chamber for causing said motor to stop and start automatically when the temperature in said chamber varies beyond certain limits, means controlled by the level of the liquid in said refrigerating device for governing said pressure-regulating valve, and a stop valve controlled by the motor governing means for automatically cutting off the supply of liquid refrigerating medium to the refrigerating device when the motor stops.

6. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerating device arranged in a refrigerating chamber, a condenser, a compressor'for sucking gas out of the refrigerating device, compressing it to a high degree, and forcing it into the condenser, a pressure line leading from the condenser to said refrigerating device for conducting a liquid refrigerating medium to said refrigeratlng device, a pressure-regulating valve in said pressure line, a thermostat controlled by thelevel of the liquid in said refrigerating device for governing said pressure-regulating valve, a motor for operating said compressor, a stop valve in said pressure line, means controlled by the temperature in said refrigerating chamber for causing said motor to stop and start automatically and for opening and closing' said stop valve, and independent means for causing said motor to stop automaticall when the pressure on the pressure side of the compressor reaches and exceeds a certain degree.

7. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerating device, a valve for controlling the supply of a liquid refrigerating medium to said device, and a thermostat for governingsaid valve, said thermostat comprising a hollow member that communicates with said refrigerating device so that the liquid can flow from said device into said member, and a connection between said member and the stem of said valve so as to cause said valve to shift when said member contracts or elongates.

8. In a refrigerating apparatus, arefrigerating device, a valve for controlling the supply of a liquid refrigerating medium to said'device, said .valve having a stem that can reciprocate freely with relation to the bonnet of the valve, a hollow member that communicates with said refrigerating device so that the liquid can flow from said device into said member, means for connecting one end of said member to a stationary supporting structure, and means for connecting the opposite free end to the stem of said valve.

9. In a refrigerating-apparatus, a refr1gerating device, a valve for controlling the supply of liquid refrigerating medium to 96' said device, said valve having a stem that can reciprocate freely with relation to the bonnet of the valve, a hollow member arranged in an inclined position and hav ng its lower end communicating with said re- 9 frigerating device so that the liquid can flow from said device into said member, means for securing the lower end of said member to a stationary supporting structure, and means for connecting the upper 100 freeend of said member to said valve stem so as to cause the valve to move when said member contracts and expands.

10. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerating device, a valve for controlling the supply of liquid refrigerating medium to said device, said valve having a stem that can reciprocate freely with relation to the bonnet of the valve, a hollow member arranged in'an inclined position and having its lower end communicating with said refrigerating device so that the liquid can flow from said device into said member, means for securing the lower end of said member to a Sta-- tionary supporting structure, and adjustable 5 means for connecting the upper free end of ,said member to the stem of said valve, and a bypass from the upper port-ionof said hollow member to the upper portion of the re' frigerating device.

11. In a refrigeratingapparatus, a refrig-- erating device arranged in the refrigerating chamber, a condenser, acompressor for drawing the gas out of" the refrigerating device and for causing the liquid refrigerating 125 medium to flow from the condenser to said refrigerating device, an. electric motor for operating said compressor, a switch for controlling the current that energizes said mo tor, an electric. switch comprising a gage for 136 actuating the switch first-mentioned, and a thermostat in said refrigerating chamber consisting of a vertically disposed pipe filled with a volatile liquid and connected to said gage, thereby causing the pointer of said gage to move in one direction or the other as the pressure of the volatile liquid in said pipe varies.

12. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerating device arranged in a refrigerating chamber, a condenser, a compressor for calls ing the refrigerating medium to circulate in the system, an electric motor for operating said compressor, a switch for governing the current that energizes the motor, an electric switch for actuating said governing switch, a thermostat in said refrigerating chamber operatively connected with said electric switch for causing it to actuate the main governing switch when certain conditions exist, and an electrically-operated stop valve operatively connected to said electric switch for cutting off the supply of refrigerating medium to a refrigerating device when the motor stops.

13. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerating device arranged in the refrigerating chamber, a condenser,

a compressor for tor, an electric switch comprising a gage for actuating the switch first-mentioned, a thermostat in said refrigerating chamber consisting of a vertically disposed pipe filled with a volatile liquid and connected to saidgage, thereby causing the pointer of said gage to move in one direction or the other as the pressure of the volatile liquid in said pipe varies, a pressure-regulating valve for controlling the supply of the refrigerating medium to the refrigerating device, and a thermostat governed by the level of the liquid refrigerating medium in the refrigerating device for controlling the position of said pressure-regulating valve.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses, this 13th day of Jan. 1913.

- WILLIAM I. BODINE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM,

OHAs. W. ERMES. 

